CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Six different Eagles scored multiple points, led by Haley Skarupa's five (two goals, three assists), and goaltender Corinne Boyles stopped 31 shots to lead No. 4 Boston College to an 8-1 victory over New Hampshire in the Women's Hockey East quarterfinals at Kelley Rink Friday night.
The Wildcats got on the board at 1:11 of the first period to take a 1-0 lead, but the Eagles stormed back to score eight unanswered goals. Special teams played a huge role in the game, as BC was 3-for-4 on the man advantage and added a short-handed goal, while UNH went 0-for-5 in the power play.
Sara Carlson beat Boyles just over a minute into the game for her second goal of the season, but it proved to be the only tally that UNH would be able to manage.
The Eagles answered the Wildcat's early strike with four first-period goals. Dana Trivigno started the scoring ways for BC when she buried the rebound off Emily Pfalzer's shot that hit the post, tying the game at 1-1.
Kristyn Capizzano gave BC a 2-1 lead at 7:57 of the first period when she scooped up a rebound that bounced off UNH goaltender Vilma Vaattovaara's pads and lifted a shot high into the top left corner of the net for her tenth goal of the season. Kate Leary then doubled the lead in similar fashion, as she backhanded a shot into the net off the rebound on Taylor Wasylk's shot for a power-play goal.
Melissa Bizzari concluded the scoring in the first period when she tipped Skarupa's shot right in front of the goal, sending a bouncing puck into the net with three seconds remaining in the period to give BC a 4-1 lead.
The Eagles continued their strong special teams play in the second period, scoring two power-play goals and one short-handed goal. Lexi Bender and Capizzano netted the goals on the man advantage, while Skarupa tallied the short-handed goal on a backhander that she put between Vaattovaara's legs. The three goals gave BC a 7-1 lead heading into the third period.
Skarupa finished off the scoring in the game at 4:31 with her 25th lamp lighter of the season, settling the score at 8-1.
Boyles made 31 saves and improves to 22-5-2. Vaattovaara stopped 24 shots and falls to 6-10-2.
The shots were even in the contest at 32 apiece.
Boston College (26-5-3) advances to the WHEA semifinals with the win, and will play Saturday, March 8 in Hyannis, Mass. at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Memorial Skating Rink.